THE first-ever giant electronic display board, carrying real-time stock market information and positive news around the country, was formally unveiled Wednesday by a group led by the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

Mounted on the façade of the Insular Life Building at the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas in Makati City, the P45-million project measures 30 meters in length and 1.5 meters in height.

“Apart from having our own version of New York City’s Times Square, the electronic display system will help bring the stock market closer to commuters and ordinary people so that they can continue to monitor the stock market even when they are outdoors,” said PSE president Francis Lim.

Globaltronics handled the installation of the board, while Globe Telecom is its initial sponsor for advertisements and will also shoulder the operational expenses, such as the electricity cost. Once the board is opened up for placement of ads, the parties will share in the revenues.

Meanwhile, Insular Life chairman Vicente Ayllon said they plan to offer the company’s soon-to-be constructed building in Cebu City as host to another electronic display board system.

PSE, for its part, welcomes the offer.

“We are really looking at other strategic areas not only in Metro Manila because we want to create more awareness and convert that awareness to active stock market trading,” said Lim.

Based on a study conducted by the group, one million pedestrians and cars traverse Ayala Avenue everyday, making the location of the electronic board even more viable.

The board will run the PSE ticker tape, disclosures, stock market information and carry trading highlights from 9am to 12noon. It will also feature breaking news, corporate and technology news, traffic advisories, weather updates, and public service announcements after trading hours.

THE Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) group’s plan to launch a direct-to-home (DTH) satellite television service is seen to finally take off this year, as it earmarks P700 million as initial investment.

P&G opens depot, sees larger demand

Consumer manufacturing giant Procter and Gamble (P&G) is preparing for the continued growth in the demand for its consumer products as evidenced by the expansion of its distribution center in Cabuyao, Laguna.

A network disruption was blamed for the slow take-up of Globe Telecom mobile-phone subscribers in the first quarter, company president Gerardo Ablaza said yesterday.

THE first-ever giant electronic display board, carrying real-time stock market information and positive news around the country, was formally unveiled Wednesday by a group led by the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) bought more electricity from the government-owned National Power Corp. (NPC) in 2007 than it did from Lopez-owned independent power producers.